CA1076524A

CA1076524A - Folding bracket

Info

Publication number: CA1076524A
Application number: CA313,191A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Marcel Trotin
Original assignee: Au Creuset de la Thierache SA
Current assignee: Au Creuset de la Thierache SA
Priority date: 1977-10-14
Filing date: 1978-10-12
Publication date: 1980-04-29
Also published as: BE871258A; FR2405670A1; NL7810321A; GB2005989B; IT1106156B; FR2405670B1; IT7851483A0; DE2844389A1; GB2005989A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
This folding bracket, notably for supporting shelves and the like, comprises two pivotally inter-connected arms and has slidably mounted in one arm a spring-loaded longitudinal rod adapted in the operative position to releasably engage a hole in the other arm and provided with a trigger extension projecting beyond the inner face of the first arm through and elongated aperture formed with at least one lateral notch at its end opposite the pivot pin so that the trigger can be pulled with one finger for releasing the bolt from the hole and retaining the rod in one notch from which the trigger can be released at a finger touch for restoring the locking engagement between the two arms.

Description

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to brackets, notably of the type intended for supporting miscellaneous objects, notably shelves, in cantilever fashion, from a wall, and more particularly to folding brackets for this purpose.

DESCRI~TION OF THE PRIOR ART

Various types of folding brackets are known, which are used at least by pairs, for example by fixing one of their arms to a wall or partition. me two arms of these brackets are pivoted to each other, the movable arm co-operating with a spring-loaded bolt adapted to lock this arm in its operative position at right angles to the other arm, the movable arm being in this case substantially horizontal. At least two such brackets are fixed to a partition, so that their movable arms can be used for supporting a shelf when they are locked in their horizontal, operative position at right angles to the corresponding arms secured to the partition.
A folding bracket is also known wherein the locking device consists of a tilting lug partially housed within the movable arm somewhat spaced from the pivotal connection between the two arms, ^ this lug being adapted to co-operate with twin legs pivoted to the lower end of the arm to be fixed to the wall or partition. At its opposite e~d, these twin legs, adapted to slide in guideways formed longitudinally in the movable arm, can be locked by the lug in a position in which they hold the movable arm in the operative or horizontal position, said lug being urged by spring means to its locking position.
When it is desired to release or unlock brackets of the :' , ' ' ' ' .. ' . ' ' ' ' ~

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above-mentioned type for folding down the shelf rigidly fixed to the movable arms in a position substantially parallel to the wall or partition, the various brackets must be released simultaneously while gripping the front edge of the shelf to pivot same to its folded position. Therefore, if the shelf is secured by more than two brackets, this operation cannot be performed by a single person, and this may prove awkward or detrimental. Moreover, these known folding brackets are relatively expensive due to the provision of a pair of sliding legs for supporting the horizontal arm.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is the essential object of this invention to avoid the inconveniences set forth hereinabove of prior art folding brackets.
Accordingly, the invention as herein broadly claimed is a folding bracket, notably for supporting shelves, made up of two arms pivotally interconnected at one of their ends, one arm being intended to be secured to a wall and a locking device for locking the arms in operative position at right angles to ,~.1`` ~' ~ - .
one another. According to the invention, the locking device çomprises a locking aperture in the aforesaid one arm, adjacent the pivot means; a manually operable bolt guidably mounted on the other arm to slide longitudinally therealong so that one - end of the bolt may be introduced in the locking aperture to ; lock the arms in ~he angular position and resilient means ; biasing the bolt toward the aperture.
sy disposing a sliding bolt at -the level of the pivot means, interconnecting the two arms, it is possible to dispense with the sliding twin legs of the prior art device mentioned hereinabove, thus simplifying considerably the bracket manufacture.

According to a preferred embodimen-t of the invention, ... .

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the bolt is guided by means of a pair of spaced cross-pieces formed integrally wi-th the said other arm, the ends of the bolt being slidably mounted in the cross-pieces and the bolt has its other end bent to project beyond one Eace of the said other arm to constitute a control trigger adapted to slide in an elongated aperture formed in the said one face.
With this arrangement i-t is easy for an opera-tor to actuate the bolt by pulling the trigger with the forefinger against the biasing force of the resilient means.
Preferably also, means are provided for keeping the bolt in its bracket release position. Such means may comprise ; at least one notch formed across the end of the elongated aper- -ture which is remote from the pivot means interconnecting the bracket arms. Thus, it is very easy to release several brackets for folding a shelf down against a wall, since the ~ brackets can be unlocked in succession while the still locked ,~ brackets, a-t the limit the last one, keep the shelf in position.
` A description now follows of a preferred embodiment of the inventlon having reference to the appended drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical form of embodiment of the bracket according to this invention, shown in its operative or locked position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the bracket of - Figure 1 in its unlocked or release position;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section with parts broken away, showing thc bracket of Figure 1 in its locked condi-tion, and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the bracket unlocked and its bolt retained in the release or neutral position.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

1 In the form of embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 - 4 of the drawing, the folding bracke-t according to the present invention comprises two arms 1, 2 pivotally interconnected by means of a pair . of ears 3, 4 formed integrally with the arm 1, and a lug 5 rigid with the other arm 2, these three members 3, 4 and 5 having aligned ....
holes formed therethrough and engaged by a pivot pin 6. The bracket ~ also comprises a locking device adapted to lock the arm 1 in its -~ operative position, at right angles to the other arm 2, as illustra=

ted in Figures 1 and 3.

The arms 1, 2 may be made of pressed steel or of molded :
. plastics material of adequate strength.

. According to this invention, the locking device comprises a manually operated bolt consisting of a metal rod 7 slidably mounted ` in one of the arms 1, 2, in this example the arm 1, in the vicinity ~.
of the pivotal connection between the arms 1, 2, this bolt 7 being adapted to engage the other arm 2 by co--operating with a resilient return member 8 in the locked bracket position.
In the exemplary form of embodiment illustrated the me-tal rod 7 is mounted in an elongated cavity 9 of arm 1 so that it can slide longitudinally therein, the end 7a of rod 7, which is adjacent the pivot pin 6, being adapted to penetrate into a matching hole 11 . formed in the other arm 2 under the force of the resilient return member 8, thus locking the bracket assembly as illustrated in Figure 3.
e end portions of the bolt-forming rod 7 extends through a pair of aligned supporting cross-pieces 12, 13 formed integralIy with arm 1 and comprises at its end opposite the pivot pin 6 a bent portion 14 projecting from the inner or lower face of arm 1 to constitute a control trigger 14. miS trigger 14 is adapted to 0 slide freely in an elongated longitudinal aperture 15 formed in the , ~ . ~

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arm 1, the length of this aperture 15 corresponding substantially to the necessary stroke of bolt 7.
me resilient return member 8 consists of a coil compression spring surrounding the rod 7 between a pair of washers 16 and 17.
The washer 17 adjacent the end 7a of rod 7 adapted to engage the other arm 2 is rigid with this rod 7, and the other washer 16 surrounds freely the rod 7 and is constantly urged by spring 8 against . " .
the reaction cross-piece 12 adjacent the trigger 14. In fact, the spring 8 is so calculated that it has a certain degree of prestress - 10 between the fixed washer 17 and the movable washer 16, so that the latter is constantly pressed against the cross-piece 12.
~ This transverse supporting cross-piece 12 has a central '~ notch formed therein to permit the insertion of the trigger 14 into its aperture 15, whereafter the rod is retained in the notch by . , .
means of a pin 18. On the other hand, the arm 2 comprises at its -end adjacent the pivot pin 6 a projection 19 of substantially tri=
; angular cross-section, in which the hole 11 for receiving the end 7a of bolt 7 is formed. When the bracket is in its locked position, this projecting portion 19 is a free fit in a corresponding notch `` 20 21 formed in the adjacent end of arm 1.
According to an essential feature characterizing this invention, the bracket comprises means for keeping the bolt 7 in its release position.
In the form of embodiment illustrated, these bolt retaining means comprise a pair of notches 22 formed across the end of the elongated hole 15 which is remotest from the pivot pin 6, these notches 22 having a substantially semi-circular configuration and registering with each other to constitute a single aperture suhstan=
tially of buttonhole configuration.
When the trigger 14 is pulled, for example with the forefinger, ; .

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1 it slides in the elongated aperture 15 so that it can be pivoted about its axis to engage one of the two notches 22, so that the bolt-rod i is retained in this release or neutral position, as illustrated in Figure 4.
Each arm 1, 2 has holes 23 formed therethrough for engage=
ment by fastening means such as screws, studs, or the like, when fixing the bracket to a wall or partition, since each arm can be fixed to the wall according to the specific application contemplated.
Thus, if it is desired to utilize the bracket of this inven=

tion by fixing its arm 2 to the wall or partition, the bracket is used as follows : `
After fixing the arm 2 to the vertical surface to be shelved, with the two arms disengaged from each other (except for the pivot . pin 6) as shown in Figure 2, the bolt-rod 7 is for instance in its position corresponding to the locking condition of the bracket.
;~ In this position, the return spring 8 keeps the rod end 7a inside the end notch 21 and the trigger 14 engages the end of the elongated aperture 15 which is adjacent the cross-piece 12. In .
addition/ the spring 8 has its minimum prestress, but the latter is still sufficient to keep the washer 16 in engagement with the cross piece 12.
To lock the bracket in its operative position, it is only necessary to raise the arm 1 by pivoting same about the upper end - -of the other arm 2, so that the bolt end 7a of ~od 7 will engage the projection 19. Then, continuing this upward pivotal movement of arm 1 will cause the bolt rod 7 to recede against the force of spring 8 until the end 7a engages the hole 11 into which it is firmly thrust by the spring 8. In this position, shown in Figures 1 and 3, the spring 8 holds the bolt 7 in locking engagement in the other arm 3, 60 that the bracket is safely lbcked.

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For releasing the arm 1, it is only necessary to pull the trigger 14 with the forefinger in the horizontal directlon as shown by the arrow F (Figure 3), that is, away from arm 2. mus~ the bolt 7 is caused to slide in the cross-pieces 12 and 13, the end 7a being gradually withdrawn from the hole 11, while the trigger 14 slides - in the elongated aperture 15 towards the notches 22. When the trigger 14 has completed this backward movement in the elongated aperture 15, the end 7a of the rod is removed completely from the hole 11, as shown in Figure 4.
To keep the rod 7 in this release position, it is only neces=
sary to cause same to pivot about its axis in one or the other di= -rection so as to cause the trigger 14 to engage one of the lateral notches 22. Only a slight push in the opposite direction is suffi=
cient for restoring the bolt to its initial position under the " force of return spring 8.
If more than two brackets are provided for supporting a shelf fastened to their movable arms 1, it is thus possible to release each movable arm in succession by retaining the corresponding ;;` rod 7 in its neutral position as shown in Figure 4, by causing their triggers 14 to engage the retaining notches 22. The shelf secured to the arms 1 remains in its horizontal, non-folded position as long as the last bracket is in its locked position. The use of brackets -according to this invention is therefore particularly convenient in comparison with the use of brackets of the prior art mentioned herein=
above, since a single person can handle a shelf supported by more ; than two brackets.
':', When the bracket according to this invention is used by fi~ing its arm provided with the lock bolt 7 against the wall or partition, the locking device will operate exactly as in the prece=
ding example, with the only difference that in this case the lock .; . , ,'''' ' ' " ' `~ :
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., 1 bolt 7 is disposed vertically, so that the trigger 14 must be pulled also vertically.
The bracket according to this invention is also much more economical to manufacture than hitherto known folding brackets, no=
tably in comparison with the bracket comprising sliding legs.
Of course, this invention should not be construed as being strictly limited by the specific form of embodiment described and illustrated herein, since many modifications and changes may be brought thereto without departing from the basic principle of the ,~ 10 invention as set forth in the appended Claims. Thus, the hole 11 may advantageously be provided with a steel liner in which the bolt end 7a is caused to slide, thus avoiding any premature wear and tear of the walls of said hole 11.
Besides, the bracket according to this invention is applica=
ble to many diEferent structures, outside shelves, for example for supporting dress- or coat-hangers and table drop-flaps.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A folding bracket, notably for supporting shelves, made up of two arms, pivot means interconnecting said arms at one end thereof, one of said arms being intended to be secured to a wall, and a locking device for locking said arms in operative position at right angles to one another, characterized in that said locking device comprises: a locking aperture, in said one arm, adjacent said pivot means; a manually operable bolt and guide means on the other arm to allow sliding of said bolt longitudinally along said other arm for introduction of one end of said bolt in said locking aperture to lock said arms in said angular position, and resilient means biassing said bolt toward said aperture.

2. A folding bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises a pair of spaced cross-pieces formed integrally with said other arm, the ends of said bolt being slidably mounted in said cross-pieces, and wherein said bolt has the other end thereof bent to project beyond one face of said other arm to constitute a control trigger adapted to slide in an elongated aperture formed in said one face.

3. A folding bracket as claimed in claim 2, wherein said resilient means comprises: a coil compression spring dis-posed coaxially around said bolt between two washers, one washer adjacent said bolt one end being rigid with said bolt one end, the other washer being urged by said spring against the cross-piece adjacent said control trigger, said bolt being adapted to slide through said other washer when said trigger is pulled for releasing the bracket from its right angular position.

4. A folding bracket as claimed in claim 3, wherein means are provided for keeping said bolt in its bracket release position.

5. A folding bracket as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bolt keeping means comprise at least one notch formed across the end of said elongated aperture which is remote from the pivot means interconnecting said bracket arms.